Study Abroad Orientation For Students studying abroad spring 2019

Pre-Departure

Before Leaving Campus Contact your advisor Make plans to apply for graduation Settle financial aid/scholarship details Make arrangements for housing upon return Make plans for enrollment for the following semester Substitutions and approvals

Before leaving the U.S. Do you have a valid passport? Is it valid the entire time you are abroad? Do you have a visa (if applicable)? Did you make a copy of your passport and visa? Leave a copy at home too! Did you read and understand all information provided by the CIEA office?

Before leaving the U.S. Did you return all required forms to the CIEA office and the host institution? Did you make a list of credit card numbers and phone numbers in case you lose your information or it is stolen? Did you enroll in STEP?

What is STEP? Smart Traveler Enrollment Program STEP is a free service to allow U.S. citizens traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Benefits Receive info from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country Help your family and friends be able to get in touch with you incase of emergency step.state.gov

Health Abroad

Medical/safety issues Consult your physician prior to departure Obey the laws of the host country Do not do drugs!! Jail or other consequences are a hefty price to pay Beware and be smart with alcohol consumption!

Medical/safety issues Did you carefully read the information provided by the State Department and the CDC? Make sure to take with you sufficient amounts of prescription medicine Carry your prescriptions with you Make sure all of your vaccinations are up to date

Medical/safety issues Protection Play safe! Birth control Safe sex Sexual behavior accepted in the U.S. is not necessarily accepted in other countries You are now a grown up, with much greater freedom and responsibilities If you are lucky enough to click with someone, be prepared! Make sure one of you is wearing something—and we don’t mean socks…

Tips for Your Time Abroad

Useful tips Read about the country you are visiting in advance Learn basics about local customs Attempt to blend in with the culture Avoid acting too “American” (avoid white socks, bright colors, baggy jeans, etc) Travel light—practice packing and carrying! Space bags Layer clothes What should you bring? Hiking backpack for weekend trips Tough shoes

Useful tips Do not carry anything for anybody Do not ever leave baggage unattended Cell phone: check with your provider! Emergency phone numbers Avoid spending all of your time with fellow American students

Useful tips Diversify your money (ATM cards, credit cards, small amounts of cash) Credit card is usually best Best to bring 2 cards just incase Don’t flash the cash Write down credit card number and bank phone numbers, incase they need to be cancelled Also leave a copy of this at home Electricity is on a different system Buy adaptors Buy in country Use common sense!

Academic information You are participating in an academic program, you are not on vacation! Bargain airfares are not an excuse to miss class! Grades are transferred into your GPA Pass/Fail must be requested within the first month of your program as detailed in the Truman catalog

Academic information If courses you signed up for are not offered, do not panic! Contact the CIEA Office Keep an open mind. There are different academic systems and ways of learning Relationships between teachers and students are not the same abroad Textbooks are rarely required

Once you have arrived Call home! Tell your family where you are! Make sure they know you are safe! The CIEA office will be checking in on you to see how you are adjusting. Please reply honestly! Beware of pickpockets Acquaint yourself with your new surroundings and have a great time! Ask about doing a Snapchat takeover to show others around your city!

Arriving and Returning Home Culture shock 1. Application Anxiety New opportunity Under and overestimate potential adjustment problems 2. Selection/Arrival Fascination High expectations Activity heavy 3. Initial Culture Shock Changes in sleeping habits Disorientation Meeting people from other cultures Foreign language comprehension

4. Surface Adjustment Settling in Language basics improve Meet new friends, learn the area with them 5. Mental Isolation Frustration Lack of motivation 6. Integration/ Acceptance Comfortable with class style and friends Create a new “home” in this place 7. Return Anxiety Not wanting to leave new “home”, new friends Fear those at home will not understand, guilt 8. Shock/Reintegration Adjusting back to home/Truman life Not able to accurately describe depth of their experience to friends Use experience to your advantage in your “new” home life

Contact info ciea@truman.edu 660-785-4076 – CIEA Office 202-647-3000 – State Department 404-332-4559 – CDS